Has someone finally figured out iDrive?

At the International media launch of the then-new BMW 7 Series at which iDrive was first introduced, they had an engineer sit in the car with each journalist for half an hour explaining how this system worked.

OK, so any new technology needs some explanation.

But this might have been our first clue that it wasn't the most intuitive thing ever devised.

The objective was fine - to enable all the functions that modern electronics can add to the driving experience, but combine the controls needed to operate them into a single system, thereby saving valuable dash and centre console space.

But the execution was, shall we say, somewhat lacking.

Various other companies have tried the same idea. Mercedes-Benz's COMAND system was, if anything, even harder to comprehend. Audi's MMI - Multi-Media Interface, I think it was called - appeared to take advantage of its competitors' mistakes, and was considerably easier to manipulate.

Jaguar and others went with a touch screen, which is maybe the easiest to operate. But there is a built-in conflict in this concept, between ease of reach and ease of viewing - the farther away the screen, the closer to the operator's (driver's or passenger's) line of sight, but the harder it is to access.

Nissan's Infiniti division probably did it best; same concept - a mouse-like knob with point-and-click actions to select the various systems and values you wanted, but for some reason, it just made more sense - to me, at least.

BMW came up with a simplified iDrive which worked better, and on their newest 7, an entirely new design which again is a huge improvement on the original.

Most such systems have voice activation too. I must not be the only person who never bothers to learn how to use this function, because car companies keep trying to come up with ways to manipulate such systems by hand.

And I drove a Lexus RX450h hybrid the other day, and it may have the best yet, with a system they call Remote Touch.

A trapezoidal knob in the palm-rest housing on the centre console moves a cursor on the dash-mounted screen. Built-in electronic resistance (it's called 'haptic feedback') means that unlike a computer mouse/arrow, it wants to stop only in places where you have an option to select something. And, it will automatically centre itself on one of those options if you get close enough.

In the screen shown here (the Main Menu) you can select one of those five options, then press one of the Enter buttons, which, like some of the more complex computer mice, are elongated buttons on either side of the housing.

That brings up a sub-menu, move the cursor, hit Enter, and on it goes.

What really helps are the dedicated buttons just ahead of the controller knob. One touch of your index finger takes you back to the Main Menu, so if you do get lost in the maze, there's an easy way out.

And on the assumption that the most common use of this system will be navigation, the right-most button instantly displays the map.

Maybe Remote Touch only feels more intuitive to those who spend most of their waking hours on a computer, which surely encompasses most who would be attracted to a vehicle like the Lexus 450h Hybrid in the first place. The same system is expected to work its way onto other Lexus and, probably, higher-end Toyotas over time.

Ain't progress wonderful?

Comments

[Nick B.]

Junk!

[Jim]

Hi Nick:

Well, you're succinct, I'll give you that.

You referring to my writing or Toyota's engineering?

If the latter, have you tried this Remote Touch system? I have to admit I was skeptical when I first tried it too, but it works pretty well.

If the former, well, um...

Jim Kenzie

[Nick B.]

Technology, not your writing style.

On another note; when is Ontario raising its ridiculous speed limits? Having just come back from a lengthy trip to the states, driving in Ontario is like watching paint dry. You need to put the daft speed limit back on the front burner in your agenda, and start hassling the politicians with your articles.

And yes, I don't care what people here say, Americans are better and more courteous drivers than Canadians.

Cheers,

Nick B.

[Brian]

I had a chance to try out the iDrive in whatever version is in the current 3-series. Best thing about it is at least the steering wheel buttons still work, no matter how lost you are in the iDrive. The rest of it I'm more likely to set it and forget it before I leave home.

With all the fuss about using cell phones while driving, the goobermint seems to ignore these distractions that are built right in to the car. At least with the phone you are still (hopefully) watching the road.

[Rob]

Jim, doesn't this type of "interface" force the driver to take his/her eyes off the road for much longer than an old fashioned knob or button would? Isn't this just as bad as texting while driving?

[jim kenzie]

Hi Nick:

Whew!!

As for speed limits, yes, we're still working on that one.

I had a one-on-one scheduled with O.P.P Superintendent Julian Fantino last fall to discuss specifically this idiotic "Street Racing" law, and speed limit enforcement in general, but he cancelled at the last moment and hasn't gotten back to me to reschedule. I'm not holding my breath.

As for Americans and courtesy, it is important to compare apples to apples. Many Canadians' driving experience with American drivers is in the I-75 corridor to the south, which winds its way through Middle America, avoiding any big cities.

My experience world-wide is that drivers are much worse, more aggressive, less courteous, in big cities than in smaller centres or rural areas. Germany, Portugal, England, South Africa, Korea, China - yes, Canada and the US too. (Japan may be the exception - they're all courteous over there).

Compare Toronto to New York, Belleville Ontario with, oh, Cincinnati Ohio, and I think you won't find that much difference!

Jim Kenzie

[jim kenzie]

Hi Brian:

That I think would be the second-latest upgrade to iDrive. I believe the latest is currently only in the new 7-Series, but I'm sure the fine folks at BMW will tell me otherwise if I'm wrong1

The point of all of these systems is that they are supposed to make handling all these functions easier, hence make driving safer.

Noble objective; not always achieved in practice.

Jim

[jim kenzie]

Hi Rob:

As I mention in the above response, the objective is to make driving safer!

We do get used to dedicated knobs; the plan is you eventually get used to these concepts too. And as the previous commenter noted, you should do the set-up while at rest, in your driveway or wherever.

Jim Kenzie

[jr!]

Jim,
I think I know why the iDrive and similar such systems built into German cars are so difficult to master. With us Germans (yes, I am one) we believe that we have to be on the cutting edge of new technology, whether it's relevant technology or not.
Therefore some German engineered items tend to be a bit er... over fiddled, just to demonstrate how technologically advanced the engineers are.
Ever used the computer program SAP?
I rest my case!
Great column, keep up the great work!!

BTW are you on vacation or something? You recycled the roundabout rant from a few years back, but that's ok, it's still a valid point!

[Jim Kenzie]

Hi jr!:

Despite my Scottish-sounding surname (no "Mac" - they're all 'sons of us'...) my ancestors on my Father's side are also German, I do have an engineering degree - and I still can't figure it out!

As for 'recycling', I prefer to think of it as a 'reminder', as in, "Hey!! You haven't fixed this yet!"

Jim